Chapter 17

Harry was standing outside the Great Hall hoping that by some miracle his friends would come down and accompany him. When he realized how far-fetched his dream was he entered. He was surprised to find quite a bit of students sitting there either socializing, doing work, or something interesting like playing a wizards board game.

Harry looked at all of the students in the room hoping to find someone he knew and by fate or destiny he saw her. The same white haired girl he had been hoping to find during his time here was sitting there playing chess against someone else from her house Harry assumed.

He walked close enough to the table to observe the game silently. Luna clearly won the game since pretty much the only important piece left of her opposition was a rook and two bishops. Luna then moved her pawn and said "Checkmate".

The girl looked as though she were about to cry from the defeat. Harry however stepped in before she could.

"I don't think that was a fair game" Harry said, causing Luna to turn around.

"Why do you say that?" she asked.

Harry went around the other side of the table and then said "Because you really ought to play with someone who is of your caliber." He asked the girl permission to play Luna. The girl nodded her reply and had stormed out of the Great Hall clearly upset by the loss. Harry then sat down opposite to Luna.

Luna smiled and then asked "White or black?"

Harry smiled back and then said "You choose"

Luna chose black and started setting up her pieces. Harry did the same with the white pieces. It took them a few moments to set up but once they did they both maintained a type of poker face. It all began when Harry moved his pawn two pieces. Luna repeated the same move to a pawn opposite to Harry's

"You know I always do love playing against you" Luna said waiting for Harry.

"Why's that?" Harry asked before moving another piece.

"Well I just enjoy the little chats we have" she said before moving her own piece.

"I hope I am not distracting you" Harry said before moving another piece.

"Not at all, I need something to occupy my mind other than how bad your moves all are" she said before taking out one of Harry's pieces and placing it to the side of the board.

"Well if you remember anything from playing me it's that I never let anything escape me" he said and then took out one of her pieces.

"You know we could talk about something else as well" she said moving yet another piece.

"What do you want to talk about Luna?" Harry asked with sarcasm.

Harry then moved another piece before she spoke "Anything, you always used to interest me a lot when you talked about something troubling"

Harry eyed her carefully and kept asking himself if he wanted to humor her. He decided to take a leap of faith and just tell her.

"Alright fine, tell me if you had to suspect a teacher for being a two-faced criminal who would you pick?" Harry asked before taking out another one of Luna's piece.

"Well that's an easy inquiry. If I had to suspect a teacher I would suspect only three people. First is the potions teacher only because he constantly seems like he is hiding something" she said before moving once more.

"Well I did say two faced but he seems to show both his faces Snape does and they don't seem that bad to me" Harry said before moving another piece.

"Well you asked who I would suspect. I only suspect him because he wasn't with the rest of the staff when the troll came in" she said before taking one of Harry's pieces.

Harry's eyes creased, he was clearly shocked by this revelation "What?"

"The potions master wasn't with the rest of the teachers when the troll came in" she said.

"How do you know?" Harry asked before moving another piece.

"I saw him leave through that door over there" she said pointing to a door hidden in the corner of the room which Harry didn't recall seeing.

"Wow, well okay we got number one. Now who is number two" He said before moving another piece.

"Number two would be the Astronomy teacher. Only because I have a personal vendetta against them" she said before taking out another one of his pieces.

Harry chuckled at this while taking out one of her pieces "Okay now what about number three" he said.

"The last one would have to be the Defense teacher" she said before moving another piece.

"Professor Quirrell? But why would you suspect him?" he asked before taking out another one of her pieces.

"Well, he just seems to be the perfect candidate. Who would ever expect the poor stammer to be bad? The whole story about the vampire and the mysterious turban he just makes me very suspicious" she said.

Harry never thought about it like that before. At least he had something to work with and moved yet another piece.

"So no more inquiries?" she asked before taking another one of his pieces.

"Well there is one" he moved another piece "What do you know about Nicolas Flamel?" he asked

She moved another piece "Well, quite a bit actually. My mother had to study his methods see she's an alchemist just like him. He was a very skilled alchemist who first discovered how to transform lead to gold and how to manipulate magic through alchemy" Harry took out another one of Luna's piece.

"However that isn't even the best part" she moved another piece "He was able to create a powerful object called the 'Sorcerer's Stone'. It has the ability to give someone astonishing powers and even immortality. In the case of an almost dead person it could them a youthful life again" she said.

Harry moved again and then asked "This sorcerer's stone could it be used to heal?"

She moved another piece and then said "Yes it could. However there is a risk"

"What is the risk?" he asked before moving once again.

"Well the stone itself must be converted into an elixir which only alchemists know how to do and that elixir must drunk at certain periods of time. Failure to do so will cause your wounds to resurface or your old age to catch up to you" she said taking out another piece.

Harry just kept thinking about the information he had gotten for a while. Until then he had just been carelessly moving and taking out pieces. "Is there only one stone?" Harry asked before taking out another piece.

"Well there is a theory that Nicolas Flamel had created two. One for him, the other for his wife" she said before moving another piece.

"Well thank you for your time Luna" Harry said.

Luna looked confused and then asked "You aren't going to finish the game?"

Harry smirked and then moved his queen and then said "I believe I already have. Check…Mate". Luna smiled back at him and then from within her pockets she took out a pure crystal King chess piece and threw it to Harry who caught it with his left hand.

"Kings to you Harry" she said.

Harry smiled and said "I'll catch you later" before leaving for the common room. Luna looked at her surrounded king and flicked it.

AN: I really hoped you guys liked that chess scene. Please let me know if you liked it or if you felt I should have added more detail because there will be more scenes like this. Anyways as always Rate and Review please.